A vulnerable peace deal is in place in the Swat region of Pakistan’s northwest frontier province. For months Pakistani security forces have been fighting Islamic radical groups resulting in hundreds of deaths in the region. As the peace deal is in place there is a glimmer of hope that peace will persist bringing normal life back in this picturesque valley.
While many endorse the peace deal, the US and other western allies have strong reservations about the deal. Washington believe that peace deals in Pakistan’s restless tribal areas are times when the Taliban prepare themselves for launching attacks across the border into Afghanistan and other Western targets. Yet as far as the local population is concerned the peace deal is a chance for tourism to return to the region. Tourists used to flock the swat valley in hordes during peaceful times but the continuous fighting has robbed the region of his most important economic lifeline. Furthermore, with the introduction of the strict Sharia law,one of the main demands of the fundamentalists would lead to the formation of more terror groups and would close down all democratic rights of the people. Pakistani human rights groups have alleged the Pakistani government of bowing to the pressure of the fundamentalists as the peace deal has provided more power to the regional clerics.
The deal was struck by the new Pakistani government and Islamabad hopes that if this is successful, it could be implemented in other parts of the nortwest frontier province angering western powers and Afghanistan. Many see this peace deal to be a way to clip President Parvez Musharraf’s wings who is seen as a staunch US ally and many have blamed the former general of stoking extremism by fighting fire with fire but one must not forget that Parvez Musharraf also tried many peace deals but failed miserably.
No wonder the current peace deal is doomed even before it is implemented widely.
Via: BBC
